A Selection...

It seems odd to say, ‘happy birthday’, when a person’s passed away,

But this is the first chance I’ve had, to celebrate your special day.

We never got to say hello, or embrace as dad and son,

We never got the chance to meet, before your race was run.

I always hoped there’d come a day, when we would finally meet,

But as years went by, I had no luck, and had to admit defeat.

It’s because of you I’ve had a life, and for that I’m truly blessed,

But I never got to hold your hand or feel safe close to your chest.

I never sat upon your knee, or fell asleep wrapped in your arms,

I couldn’t turn and ask you for help, when I was close to harm.

But as I grew from boy to man, and had children of my own,

I talked about you all the time, the greatest man I’d never known.

You were never far from my thoughts, my heritage a source of pride,

I may be English born and bred, but I have a Sicilian heart inside.

I often dreamt of how I’d feel, if we were to ever meet,

A hug, a kiss, a warm embrace, would make my life complete.

Then late last year I found you, at least I found your grave,

I tried so hard to hold back the tears, but I’m afraid I’m not that brave.

Your place of rest is beautiful, as is your place of birth,

I only wish I’d found them both, before you left this earth.

I wish that I could see you today, for just a little while,

To hold your hand and hear your voice, and especially see you smile.

And then I’d get the chance to say, these words I mean so true,

‘Happy birthday dad’, from the loving son you never knew.

The 6th August is my late father’s birthday.  I never got to meet my dad, but last year in Sicily (2016) I met family and friends I never knew I had, it has been a very emotional time since, but one I’ve really enjoyed as we get to know the Sicilian side of the family. A beautiful place with beautiful and most welcoming people. 

XXX

Forza Sicilia 

It’s been a long week, up here in the north west

But we stayed strong, we are northern

it’s what we do best

You took many innocent lives

Mum's, dad's and children, sadly

But up north we are different, we don’t suffer fools gladly

We are northerners

and in mind we’re strong and we’re fit

And we don’t really have time for your idealist’s shit

In times like these, we all pull together

Northern by birth, northern forever

We don’t look back in anger

we look forward with pride

So, come at us again and again

we have right on our side

Within hours of the horror, the whole of Manchester was rockin’

You can try, you won’t beat us

you couldn’t even stop us shopping

In their hundreds and thousands

Mancunian’s on the streets and the paths

You think we are beaten

Don’t make us laugh

In a city where every religion you can think of

live together with no fear of distain

We all stood together

like we have time and again

You see the religion of hate, has no place in these parts

You may take some of our lives

but you’ll never take our hearts

We stood proud and said, ‘business as usual’

Yeah, that’s what we did

We paid respect to the dead and their families

“stay strong our kid”

I’ve been blessed by angels,

from way above the sky

They made a perfect match,

putting together you and I

They knew that we’d be together,

for ever and a day

With feelings for each other,

that we’d never have to say

Since I asked you if you’d marry me,

More than a quarter of a century has passed

I knew back then, as I still do now,

together we will last

Those years have been so kind to us,

our family has grown in size

Three children and two grandchildren,
the beauty before our eyes

The joy I feel when I’m by your side,

I never want to end

Because not only are you my love,

you are truly my best friend

I know I don’t say it often enough,

but I love you with all my heart

My love for you has grown and grown,

right from the very start

Some things in life are meant to be,

like the sun up in the sky

The sea and sand, the moon and stars,

but mostly you and I 

I wrote this for my wife Liz on our 25th Wedding anniversary in 2009

We may not want to believe it, though we know that he has gone

The man who summed up all our feelings, as City fell three one

Goodbye Richard Harnwell, you were really quite a guy

I know you’ll still be commentating, from your gantry in the sky. 

You were such a character, your type are really rare

As a Stockport County supporter, few with you compare

And though Richard has passed away in his forty seventh year

You can be sure that it’s not the last of him, that we will ever hear.

In the history of Stockport County, his mark is truly made

On many match day videos, his voice is still replayed

His commentaries conveyed his passion, a truly marvelous sound

He always made you believe, that you were with him in the ground

Stockport County’s king of the ‘mic’, is now watching from the sky

And as we remember him, he would not want for us to cry

He would want us all to laugh, as we sip upon our beers

He would not want to be remembered, whilst we are all in tears.

So farewell to you Richard, I know you are now finally at rest

As friends go, I would have to say, you were up there with the best

I hope that where you are right now, you get to see ‘The County’ play

And in your personal heaven, they beat Man City every day.

My long time mate and writing partner Richard Harnwell passed away in November 2005, he had been the co-commentator on all the early SCFC videos and had been, like many of us, a long suffering supporter of the club. I wrote and read this at his funeral.

Miss you mate xx

Me? 

I’m fine mate, 

of course I am, 

I’m a bloke 

There’s nothing wrong with me pal, 

nowt about me is broke 

I'm not sure why you’re asking me, 

go and mither someone else instead

I just keep meself to meself, 

and listen to the voices in me head

If I choose to be a grumpy git, 

or cry in a corner on me own

That’s just my way of dealing with things, 

so please, just leave me alone 

On second thoughts the fact you've asked, 

I suppose that's really nice

So next time I appear distracted, 

it might be an idea, 

to ask twice 

#AskTwice

#WorldMentalHealthDay2019